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Cannabis farm 'fixer' jailed

The fixer behind a multi-million pound conspiracy to grow cannabis has been jailed. Vincent Phung, 45, of Brandon Street, London, was arrested following a Northumbria Police investigation - Operation Attero - in 2009. Detectives uncovered evidence that Phung had rented a string of houses and cars, and organised car insurance in false names, for use in an organised conspiracy to produce cannabis in the Northumbria force area. Each house was fitted with artificial lighting and specialist growing equipment. At Preston Crown Court today he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce cannabis and was sentenced to five years. Detective Chief Inspector Lisa Orchard, of the Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: "As part of this investigation officers discovered that Phung had rented private houses from unsuspecting landlords. The houses were then converted into cannabis farms causing thousands of pounds worth of damage. "Now he is paying the price for the part he played in this criminal organisation."